Losing weight is a goal that will probably be all the more popular as the years go by. As the obesity epidemic grows, people will be all the more intent on making New Year's resolutions that involve some idea of weight loss. But just how should someone lose weight? Can the idea of weight loss be made into a workable New Year's resolution at all?

First of all, the idea of losing weight is very general, and it will be difficult to meet if you have no idea of how you want to lose weight, and how much weight you want to lose. You might also need to have an idea of how fast you want to lose that weight. Remember, weight loss is not as simple an idea as it's often worked out to be. Losing weight involves your entire body participating in the weight loss process: your muscle mass will change, the percent of fat in your body will change, and even your endocrine system, the group of organs in your body that is responsible for producing your hormones, will have to adjust to your new weight, exercise, and eating habits.

When making the resolution, think: how much weight do you want to lose, and how fast do you want to lose it? Do you want to lose weight in your overall body, or are there places in your body that have a lot of flab and are especially prone to weight gain? How much weight do you want to lose in a few months? All these questions need to be answered when you start formulating your fitness goals. These can determine what kind of weight loss regimen you need to follow - and moreover, you will need this information in order to tell your prospective trainer or nutritionist exactly what he or she will need to do in order to help you meet your weight loss goals.

You will need to consider different ways to meet your weight loss goals. There is the all-important exercise. You can choose to make your own regimen or to go to the gym. The advantage of having your own regimen is that you have more control over the intensity of your exercise, and you do not have to spend a lot on a gym membership. One disadvantage is that you may not have the time to carry out the regimen, and sometimes, depending on your fitness needs, it can be expensive if you have to spend on more expensive gym equipment.

The advantage of going to the gym is that you are forced to go because of the often exorbitant gym fees that you will need to pay. Some gyms also offer fitness training, weight training, consultation with a nutritionist, and free use of gym facilities, such as the showers and the sauna. However, you might not feel like going to the gym all the time. This might cause you to spend a lot of money for very little done on your part.

There are also many different exercises you can do, depending on your weight loss needs and your health background. There are the high impact exercises, such as boxing, aerobics, street dancing, and other exercise routines that demand a lot of stretching and twisting from you. This can be dangerous for you if you have bone or muscle problems. There are the low impact exercises, such as yoga or Pilates, which involve very gentle movements that aim to relax you. Such exercise will allow you to have greater control over your breathing, and greater flexibility over certain muscle groups. In particular, Pilates strengthens your body core.

There are also many different fun activities that have been turned into exercises. These include belly dancing, which can be good if you want to lose weight around your abdominal area. You can also do line dancing, jazz, ballet, and other forms of dance in order to strengthen different parts of your body and get yourself into shape.

These are only a few aspects of weight loss that you may need to take into account before you make your weight loss resolution. Remember, weight loss is not a simple idea, and there is no single technique that you can follow. You can use a combination of all these exercises, or even add it to a special diet. In any case, always consult with an expert before you do anything drastic. Your body will love you for it.